Baker, the committee chairman, said he will take their selection to the City Commission on Monday for final approval. He said the commission still had final architectural approval of Sebastian Harbor's design.

'This is not a land sale. This is an urban renewal project," he said. 'The economic viability of the team is crucial."

That aspect is where Vestcor shined. The company and its partner, The Hutson Group, a fast-growing home builder, already have $3.7 million in the bank to buy the 14 acres along the San Sebastian River where the city wants condos, apartments, a marina, shops, offices, a park and two parking garages.

The Randall team offered a sweetener: $250,000 to the King Street merchants to beautify the city's western entrance. That brought its total package up to $3.8 million. But the committee worried that its design was not dense enough and might not be able to carry itself financially.

The third candidate, Lee Enterprises of Steinhatchee, presented a design that most committee members felt was 'too contemporary" for St. Augustine and got 249 points.

It featured a three-level parking garage covered by a sloping grassy field, so residents could walk above the structure and have a high view of the river.

Some of the buildings were also to be reflecting the 'curvilinear metaphor" of a boat, with rounded roofs.

The company's effort was a real long-shot. It's financing schedule would have made the city a partner, a factor the committee didn't like.

Going into the interview phase Thursday, Vestcor had already been in the lead with 277 points. Randall's group followed closely with 243.

Vestcor's architect, Ricardo E. Quiñones of Jacksonville, said the architectural styles used would include Spanish, Moorish, Venetian and Mediterranean revival and Spanish colonial.

The plan has two large parking garages on the property, one with retail space below.

'We don't know what the (real estate) market will be (by the time the project is completed), so we wanted a plan that was flexible," he said.

One interesting aspect of his design includes a club tower lighthouse.

Vestcor chairman John Rood said he planned to use many local contractors for the building.

'We've got the resources to manage the construction," he said. 'It will work, make money and be successful."

The Sebastian Harbor group's plan was different from the others in that it pushed the buildings back from the water's edge.

Randall had hired three local architects, whose plan contained lots of open space, covered walkways in front of shops, and spots for a market, drug store and health food store on the property.

Jeff Nolan, of Wilson & Nolan, providing financial backing for the Randall group, said that if selected he would write a check for $350,000 as a binder and pay the rest of the property price in cash after a contract was signed.

But the committee's choices hinged on both precise calculations and gut feelings.

Weeks said none of the designs submitted were final.

'I liked parts of all of them. This is a very important decision," he said. 'We're just here to pick who will do the best job for the city."

Vestcor was seen as too dense at one point, but then Randall's plan was not seen as dense enough.

Petroglou liked Vestcor.

'It looks like St. Augustine. It will draw someone into the city," she said. In the end, Vestcor got the points and the recommendation.